- PlugsType G
- Power230 V · 50 Hz
- CurrencyGBP · British Pound
- Tipping10–15% at restaurants
- TimeUTC+0 (Europe/London) · DST observed in all zones
Plugs and power
The United Kingdom uses Type G (three rectangular). Mains power is 230 V at 50 Hz. Phone, tablet and laptop chargers are usually rated 100–240 V, so they need at most a plug adapter; check the label on hair dryers, straighteners and kettles.
| Travelling from | Adapter needed? | Voltage note |
|---|---|---|
| US / Canada | Yes | Different voltage (120 V → 230 V): check each device label for “100–240V” |
| Australia / NZ | Yes | Similar voltage (230 V at home, 230 V there) |
Plugs and voltage in the United Kingdom · Do I need a plug adapter for the UK from Australia or NZ? · Plug adapter vs voltage converter
Money: currency, cash and cards
The currency of the United Kingdom is the British Pound (GBP, £). Convert from your home currency below; the rate is a daily mid-market reference rate, so a card, ATM or exchange counter will usually give you a little less.
Daily mid-market rates, fetched in your browser (loading…). Rates By Exchange Rate API
- 1 AUD = … GBP
- 1 NZD = … GBP
- 1 USD = … GBP
- 1 EUR = … GBP
- 1 CAD = … GBP
AUD → GBP · EUR → GBP · NZD → GBP · USD → GBP · Pay in local or home currency? Checker · Paying abroad: cards, cash and ATMs
Tipping
In the United Kingdom, tipping is typically 10–15% at restaurants (Aorista tipping data: “Expected”, part of service culture). Rates for taxis, hotels and tours are on the country page.
Tipping in the United Kingdom · Tipping around the world
Time difference
The United Kingdom uses one time zone, Europe/London (UTC+0), and daylight saving time is observed in all zones. The table compares London (now 11:00, UTC+0) with common home cities, using the 2026e rules.
| City | Local time | Difference | Next change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Auckland | 00:00 | London is 13 hours behind | Sun 28 Mar 2027: becomes 12 hours behind |
| Sydney | 22:00 | London is 11 hours behind | Sun 28 Mar 2027: becomes 10 hours behind |
| New York | 06:00 | London is 5 hours ahead | Sun 14 Mar 2027: becomes 4 hours ahead |
| Los Angeles | 03:00 | London is 8 hours ahead | Sun 14 Mar 2027: becomes 7 hours ahead |
Time in London · Auckland and London time difference · Sydney and London time difference · London and New York time difference · Clock changes 2026–2027
Weather
Current conditions and 7-day forecasts (Open-Meteo) for London in the United Kingdom.
Getting there: flight times
Typical non-stop flight times and local arrival times for 7 routes into the United Kingdom:
Auckland → London · Dubai → London · Hong Kong → London · Melbourne → London · Tokyo → London · Singapore → London · Sydney → London
Packing
Packing lists you can tick off and save in your browser:
City break · Weekend getaway · Build your own list
Nearby and also popular
Spain travel essentials · France travel essentials · Italy travel essentials · All countries
Questions
What plug do I need for the United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom uses Type G plugs at 230 V, 50 Hz. From the US or Canada: adapter needed. From the UK or Ireland: adapter not needed (same plugs). From Australia or New Zealand: adapter needed.
What currency is used in the United Kingdom?
The British Pound (GBP).
Do you tip in the United Kingdom?
Typically 10–15% at restaurants, according to our tipping data (expected).
What is the time difference between the United Kingdom and the UK, US, Australia and New Zealand?
Right now (Sun 1 Nov 2026), compared with London: Auckland 13 hours ahead, Sydney 11 hours ahead, New York 5 hours behind, Los Angeles 8 hours behind. Differences change when either side starts or ends daylight saving time.
Does the United Kingdom have daylight saving time?
Yes. Zone Europe/London (IANA tz database 2026e).
Sources and last checked
- Plug types and voltage: Aorista voltage checker data. Checked 18 Oct 2026.
- Tipping norms: Aorista tipping data. Checked 18 Oct 2026.
- Time zones and daylight saving: IANA tz database 2026e. Checked 18 Oct 2026.
- Exchange rates: Rates By Exchange Rate API. Checked 18 Oct 2026.
- Weather: Open-Meteo forecasts, on the linked weather pages. Checked 18 Oct 2026.